Jewelry with a gem invertedly set therein

ABSTRACT

A jewelry article with a gem invertedly set therein. A cut gem having a top and a bottom is set into the jewelry article in an inverted position such that the bottom of the cut gem faces out to be viewed when a user wears the jewelry article. The jewelry article may further comprise a plurality of cut gems and a center gem. The cut gems are invertedly set into the jewelry article and arranged around the center gem such that the jewelry article has a substantially star shape when the jewelry article is viewed from above.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to jewelry, specifically jewelry with a gem invertedly set therein.

2. Background Information

Gems such as precious stones are usually cut when they are used for jewelry. Two typical types of cut gems are cabochons and faceted gems. Cabochons are generally smooth or domed. A faceted gem usually has a peripheral edge called a girdle, and the top of the faceted gem angles up from the girdle whereas the bottom of the faceted gem angles down from the girdle. The top of the faceted gem is also called a crown, and the bottom of the faceted gem is called a pavilion. A number of precious stones including a diamond are faceted to be able to return the maximum amount of light to a viewer.

Cut gems are typically set in jewelry such that the top of the cut gem is viewed from above when a user wears the jewelry in order to allow a light to enter the cut gem from above and back to the user through the top of the cut gem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A jewelry article of the present invention in an embodiment generally comprises a cut gem having a top and a bottom, in which the cut gem is set into the jewelry article in an inverted position such that the bottom of the cut gem faces out to be viewed when a user wears the jewelry article.

In another embodiment, a jewelry article in accordance with the present invention comprises a plurality of cut gems and a center gem. Each of the cut gems has a top and a bottom and is set into the jewelry article in an inverted position such that the bottom of the cut gem faces out to be viewed when a user wears the jewelry article. The center gem has a girdle, a top extending up from the girdle, and a bottom extending down from the girdle. The center gem is set into the jewelry article such that the top of the center gem is viewed from above when the user wears the jewelry article, wherein the cut gems are arranged around the girdle of the center gem such that the jewelry article has a substantially star shape when the jewelry article is viewed from above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a simple side view of an embodiment of a cut gem.

FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of a cut gem.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of arranging cut gems.

FIG. 4A illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a jewelry ring, in which cut gems are invertedly set in the ring.

FIG. 4B is a side perspective view of the jewelry ring shown in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4C is a top view of the jewelry ring shown in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4D is a top view of a gem portion of the jewelry ring shown in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4E is a side view of the gem portion of the jewelry ring shown in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5A illustrates an embodiment of a gem setting.

FIG. 5B illustrates the gem setting shown in FIG. 5A with a cut gem set therein.

FIG. 5C illustrates a layout of two cut gems that are set at opposite sides of the gem setting shown in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6A illustrates another embodiment of a gem setting, in which only two representative claws are shown in order to clearly show a conically slanted structure of the gem setting.

FIG. 6B illustrates the gem setting shown in FIG. 6A with a cut gem set therein.

FIG. 6C illustrates a layout of two cut gems that are set at opposite sides of the gem setting shown in FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6D illustrates a flat layout of the gem setting shown in FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of a jewelry article.

FIG. 8 illustrates still another embodiment of a jewelry article.

FIG. 9A illustrates a top view of still another embodiment of a jewelry article.

FIG. 9B illustrates a side view of the jewelry article shown in FIG. 9A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a simple side view of an embodiment of a cut gem 30. The cut gem 30 comprises a top 32, a bottom 34 and a peripheral edge 36. The top 32 of the cut gem 30 extends up from the peripheral edge 36, and the bottom 34 of the cut gem 30 extends down from the peripheral edge 36.

FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of the cut gem 30, which is faceted to be a princess cut type.

FIG. 3 illustrates a plurality of gems arranged in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A center gem 20 comprises a top 22, a bottom 24 and a girdle 26. The top 22 of the center gem 20 extends up from the girdle 26, and the bottom 24 of the center gem 20 extends down from the girdle 26. A plurality of the cut gems 30 are arranged around the center gem 20 such that the peripheral edge 36 of each of the cut gems 30 is in proximity to the girdle 26 of the center gem 20. Also, each of the cut gems 30 is set in an inverted position such that the bottom 34 of each of the cut gems 30 faces out to be viewed.

FIGS. 4A through 4E show an example of applying the above arrangement of the center gem 20 and cut gems 30 to a jewelry ring 10. The center gem 20 is set into the jewelry ring 10, held by a plurality of claws 50 from above such that the top 22 of the center gem 20 is viewed from above when a user wears the ring 10. Each of the cut gems 30 is set into the ring 10 in an inverted position such that the bottom 34 of each of the cut gems 30 faces out to be viewed when the user wears the ring 10. Each of the cut gems 30 is held between a pair of the claws 50 that are next to each other, as will be discussed below. The cut gems 30 are arranged around the center gem 20 such that the peripheral edge 36 of each of the cut gems 30 is in proximity to the girdle 26 of the center gem 20. The jewelry ring 10 with such arrangement of the center gem 20 and the cut gems 30 has a substantially star shape when the ring 10 is viewed from above, as shown in FIGS. 4C and 4D. FIGS. 4C and 4D show that eight cut gems 30 are evenly arranged around the center gem 20. The number of cut gems 30 to be set in a jewelry article in accordance with the present invention can vary if a different design is desired. For example, FIG. 7 shows a jewelry article in which ten cut gems are arranged around a center gem. As another example, FIG. 8 shows a jewelry article in which twelve cut gems are arranged around a center gem.

FIGS. 5A through 6D illustrate embodiments of setting a cut gem between a pair of claws that are next to each other. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5A through 5C, each cut gem 30 is set into a setting 100 a such that the plane of the top 32 of the cut gem 30 is substantially parallel to a central axis S of the setting 100 a. In this embodiment, when a center gem 20 is set into the setting 100 a, the plane of the top 32 of the cut gem 30 is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the top 22 of the center gem 20. A groove 52 a is formed on each side surface of each of claws 50 a so that the peripheral edge 36 of each cut gem 30 is held in the grooves 52 a of a pair of the claws 50 a that are next to each other.

In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 6A through 6D, each cut gem 30 is set into a setting 100 b such that the plane of the top 32 of the cut gem 30 runs outwardly diagonal. As a result, two cut gems 30 that are set at opposite sides of the setting 100 b are arranged in a conically converging fashion with an angle y. In this embodiment, each of claws 50 b is tapered such that a lower portion of the claw 50 b is wider than an upper portion of the claw 50 b. A groove 52 b is formed on each side surface of each of the claws 50 b so that the peripheral edge 36 of each cut gem 30 is held in the grooves 52 b of a pair of the claws 50 b that are next to each other. FIG. 6D illustrates a flat layout of the setting 100 b. If the setting 100 b is constructed to set a center gem 20 having a 10 mm diameter therein, the total length L-L resulting from the flat layout should be substantially 31.1 mm because the center gem 20 of a 10 mm diameter has a circumference of 31.1 mm. If the setting 100 b is constructed to set eight cut gems 30 around the girdle 26 of the center gem 20, the length of each section c for each cut gem 30, which includes one cut gem 30 and one claw 50 b (one half from a first claw, and the other half from a second claw that is next to the first claw), can be calculated by dividing the circumference of the center gem 20 by eight (8). Accordingly, if the circumference of the center gem 20 is 31.1 mm, the length of each section c should be substantially 31.1/8=3.89 mm. In this example, if the angle y is 9.6°, the angle z resulting from the flat layout may be 32°. Other modified construction of a setting for the present invention is possible, for example, to receive a center gem of a different diameter, to set more or less cut gems, and to result in a different angle y.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate another embodiment of a jewelry article in accordance with the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, a bezel 40 is used for setting the center gem 20 and the cut gems 30. The bezel 40 comprises an upper bezel 42, a lower bezel 44, and bars 48. Each of the bars 48 runs between the upper bezel 42 and the lower bezel 44 so as to form windows to receive the cut gems 30. The center gem 20 is inserted into and held by the upper bezel 42 such that the top 22 of the center gem 20 is viewed from above. Each of the cut gems 30 is set into the jewelry article 110 in an inverted position such that the bottom 34 of each of the cut gems 30 faces out to be viewed. Each of the cut gems 30 is held between a pair of the bars 48 that are next to each other. The cut gems 30 are arranged around the center gem 20 such that the peripheral edge 36 of each of the cut gems 30 is in proximity to the girdle 26 of the center gem 20. The jewelry article 110 with such arrangement of the center gem 20 and the cut gems 30 has a substantially star shape when the jewelry article 110 is viewed from above, as shown in FIG. 9A.

The above embodiments of the present invention can be used in making rings, earrings, pendants, broaches, bracelets, cufflinks, and other forms of jewelry. In the above embodiments of the present invention, the cut gem 30 is faceted to be princess cut or other square brilliant cut. The center gem 20 may be either faceted or in a cabochon form. Each of the center gem 20 and the cut gems 30 may be a diamond. Any other gem suitable for jewelry can be also used as the center gem 20 and/or the cut gem 30.

While the said detailed description elaborates workable embodiments of the present invention, the said embodiments shall not be construed as a limitation on the patented scope and claims of the present invention and, furthermore, all equivalent adaptations and modifications based on the technological spirit of the present invention shall remain protected within the scope and claims of the invention herein. 

1. A jewelry ring comprising: a cut gem having a top and a bottom, the cut gem set into the ring in an inverted position such that the bottom of the cut gem faces out to be viewed when a user wears the ring.
 2. The jewelry ring of claim 1, wherein the cut gem is a diamond.
 3. The jewelry ring of claim 1, wherein the cut gem is faceted.
 4. The jewelry ring of claim 1, wherein the cut gem is selected from the group consisting of a princess cut gem and a square brilliant cut gem.
 5. A jewelry article comprising: a plurality of cut gems, each of the cut gems having a top and a bottom, each of the cut gems set into the jewelry article in an inverted position such that the bottom of the cut gem faces out to be viewed when a user wears the jewelry article.
 6. The jewelry article of claim 5 further comprising a center gem having a girdle, a top of the center gem extending up from the girdle, a bottom of the center gem extending down from the girdle, the center gem set into the jewelry article such that the top of the center gem is viewed from above when the user wears the jewelry article.
 7. The jewelry article of claim 6, wherein the each of the cut gems is faceted to be princess cut, the cut gem having a peripheral edge, the top of the cut gem extending up from the peripheral edge, the bottom of the cut gem extending down from the peripheral edge.
 8. The jewelry article of claim 7, wherein the peripheral edge of the cut gem is in proximity to the girdle of the center gem.
 9. The jewelry article of claim 8 further comprises a plurality of claws, the center gem held by the claws from above, grooves formed on sides of the claws such that the peripheral edge of each of the cut gems is held in the grooves of a pair of the claws that are next to each other.
 10. The jewelry article of claim 9, wherein the cut gems are arranged around the girdle of the center gem such that the plane of the top of each of the cut gems is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the top of the center gem so that the jewelry article has a substantially star shape when the jewelry article is viewed from above.
 11. The jewelry article of claim 10, wherein the jewelry article is a ring.
 12. The jewelry article of claim 10, wherein the center gem and each of the cut gems are diamond.
 13. The jewelry article of claim 9, wherein the cut gems are arranged around the girdle of the center gem such that the plane of the top of each of the cut gems runs outwardly diagonal, the jewelry article having a substantially star shape when the jewelry article is viewed from above.
 14. The jewelry article of claim 13, wherein each of the claws is tapered such that a lower portion of the claw is wider than an upper portion of the claw.
 15. The jewelry article of claim 14, wherein the jewelry article is a ring.
 16. The jewelry article of claim 14, wherein the center gem and each of the cut gems are diamond.
 17. The jewelry article of claim 8 further comprises a bezel, the bezel comprising an upper bezel, a lower bezel, and a plurality of bars, the bars running between the upper bezel and the lower bezel so as to form windows to receive the cut gems, the center gem inserted into the upper bezel.
 18. The jewelry article of claim 17, wherein the cut gems are arranged around the girdle of the center gem such that the plane of the top of each of the cut gems is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the top of the center gem so that the jewelry article has a substantially star shape when the jewelry article is viewed from above.
 19. The jewelry article of claim 18, wherein the jewelry article is a ring.
 20. A jewelry article comprising: a plurality of cut gems, each of the cut gems having a top and a bottom, each of the cut gems set into the jewelry article in an inverted position such that the bottom of the cut gem faces out to be viewed when a user wears the jewelry article; and a center gem having a girdle, a top of the center gem extending up from the girdle, a bottom of the center gem extending down from the girdle, the center gem set into the jewelry article such that the top of the center gem is viewed from above when the user wears the jewelry article, wherein the cut gems are arranged around the girdle of the center gem such that the jewelry article has a substantially star shape when the jewelry article is viewed from above. 